Method for synthesis of carbon-coated redox materials with controlled size

ABSTRACT

A method for the synthesis of compounds of the formula C—Li x M 1−y M′ y (XO 4 ) n , where C represents carbon cross-linked with the compound Li x M 1−y M′ y (XO 4 ) n , in which x, y and n are numbers such as 0≦x≦2, 0≦y≦0.6, and 1≦n≦1.5, M is a transition metal or a mixture of transition metals from the first period of the periodic table, M′ is an element with fixed valency selected among Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Al 3+ , Zn 2+  or a combination of these same elements and X is chosen among S, P and Si, by bringing into equilibrium, in the required proportions, the mixture of precursors, with a gaseous atmosphere, the synthesis taking place by reaction and bringing into equilibrium, in the required proportions, the mixture of the precursors, the procedure including at least one pyrolysis step of the carbon source compound.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/362,763, filed on Jun. 19, 2003, which is a national stage application of PCT/CA01/01349, filed on Sep. 21, 2001, which claims priority to Canadian Application No. 2,320,661, filed on Sep. 26, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for preparing electrode materials that are able to make possible redox reactions by exchange of alkaline ions and electrons. The applications are in the area of primary or secondary electrochemical generators (batteries), supercapacity generators and in the area of modulation systems for electrochromic light.

PRIOR ART

Insertion compounds of the formula LiMPO₄ with olivine structure, where M is a metallic cation belonging to the first line of transition metals, e.g. Mn, Fe, Co or Ni, are known and their use as cathode material in lithium batteries has been reported by Goodenough et al. in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,382. In the Canadian patent application CA-A-2,307,119, the general nature of the “LiMPO₄ type” compounds was indicated insofar as, while essentially maintaining the same olivine structure, part of the M atoms may be substituted with other metals with valence between 2 and 3, in which the adjacent transition elements, or a part of the phosphorus, can be substituted by elements such as Si, S, Al, As. Similarly, the lithium that allows electroneutrality can occupy a fraction or all of the octahedral sites of the olivine structure, or possibly position itself in an interstitial position when all of the octahedral sites are occupied.

The formula Li_(x+y)M_(1−(y+d+t+q+r))D_(d)T_(t)Q_(q)R_(r)[PO₄]_(1−(p+s+v))[SO₄]_(p)[SiO₄]_(s)[VO₄] in which:

-   -   M can be Fe²⁺ or Mn²⁺ or a mixture of the two;     -   D can be a metal in the +2 oxidation state chosen from the group         containing Mg²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Ti²⁺;     -   T can be a metal in the +3 oxidation state chosen from the group         containing Al³⁺, Ti³⁺, Cr³⁺, Fe³⁺, Mn³⁺, Ga³⁺ and V³⁺;     -   Q is a metal in the +4 oxidation state chosen from the group         containing Ti⁴⁺, Ge⁴⁺, Sn⁴⁺ and V⁴⁺; and         -   R is a metal in the +5 oxidation state chosen from the group             containing V⁵⁺, Nb⁵⁺ and Ta⁵⁺,             with a definition of the parameters x, y, d, t, q, r, p, s             and includes the general nature of the meaning given to the             term “of the Li_(x)MXO₄ type, 0≦x≦2” of the olivine             structure in the meaning of the present invention and will             be used in the following. The preferred substituents for the             phosphorus are silicon and sulfur.

In these compounds prepared in the lithiated form (in discharged state), at least one of the transition metals is in oxidation state II. In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,382 and its CIP, as well as in the following patents and publications, the syntheses of the LiMPO₄ compounds are carried out using a salt of the transition metal M corresponding to oxidation state II and maintaining this oxidation state throughout the synthesis, up to the final product. The transition element, for which the valence II is maintained throughout the course of synthesis, no matter what method is used, is iron, with the majority of its compounds oxidizing spontaneously. For example, in air, LiFePO₄ has been produced by reaction in the solid state, at high temperature and under inert atmosphere, of various constituents (e.g. for the iron source Fe(OOCCH₃)₂, for the phosphate source, NH₄H₂PO₄ and for that of lithium, Li₂CO₃). In all these cases, the iron source is a salt in which the iron is in oxidation state II, which could be using iron acetate II as described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,382, iron oxalate II as described in Electrochem and Solid-State Letters, 3, 66 (2000) and in the Proceedings of the 10^(th) IMLB, Como, Italy in May, 2000, or vivianite (Fe₃(PO₄)₂ 8H₂O) as described in the Canadian patent application CA-A-2,270,771.

The sensitivity of iron II with respect to oxidation by oxygen makes all of these synthesis processes very delicate and all possible precautions must be taken to completely exclude the presence of oxygen, and in particular at the time of thermal processing, which increases the cost of the material accordingly. This sensitivity gives rise to a lack of reproducibility of the electrochemical behavior of the samples. This problem is emphasized in Yamada et al., J. Electrochem Soc., 148, A224 (2001). In addition, iron is the most useful element which, due to its abundance and lack of toxicity, and the main application of the invention, is intended for an improved preparation of redox compounds containing this element. It is obvious that the results of the invention apply to manganese, vanadium, cobalt, titanium, vanadium, etc. under corresponding conditions, at their desired degree of oxidation. In a general way, any precursor of metal M in which the least costly degree of oxidation is the easiest to handle, does not correspond to the one required in the formula for the redox material Li_(x)MXO₄.

An improvement in these compounds has previously been suggested in the Canadian patent CA-A-2,270,771. In this document, it has been shown that the electrochemical performance of LiFePO₄ was greatly improved, no matter whether in terms of reversible capacity, cyclability or power, when the particles of the material are covered with a fine layer of electronically conductive carbon. In this application, the inventors have benefited from using an iron salt at oxidation state II, in the presence of an organic compound that can be pyrolyzed, under the synthesis conditions without it being possible for the carbon residue to become oxidized due to the low oxidizing power of the ferrous compound or of the atmosphere in equilibrium with the latter.

The patent application EP-A-1,094,532 describes a production method for materials for an active positive electrode. This method includes a step where a number of substances are mixed to obtain a precursor. Then the precursor is sintered to result in the synthesis of a compound of the formula Li_(x)M_(y)PO₄, in which x is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 2, y is greater than or equal to 0.8 and less than or equal to 1.2 and M includes at least one metal having 3d orbitals. A solid reducing agent is added in the course of the mixing step of the precursor in order to allow preparation, which is carried out under inert atmosphere, of the material for active positive electrodes that are capable of doping and dedoping lithium in a satisfactory and reversible manner.

EP-A-1,094,533 describes a non-aqueous electrolyte adapted for secondary batteries using a material or an active electrode containing a compound represented by the general formula Li_(x)M_(y)PO₄, in which x is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 2, and y is greater than or equal to 0.8 and less than or equal to 1.2, with M containing a 3d transition state, and the grains of Li_(x)M_(y)PO₄ are no greater in size than 10 micrometers.

This non-aqueous electrolyte for secondary batteries is presented as having improved cyclic characteristics and a high capacity.

The international PCT application, reference number WO 01/53198, describes a material based on a mixed lithium metal compound that releases lithium ions by electrochemical interaction. This material is prepared using the necessary precursors, by reduction of at least one of the metallic ions by carbon.

Besides their electrochemical performance in lithium batteries, the interest in this new family of materials is to make use of elements that are non-toxic, abundant and inexpensive to extract. These characteristics are critical to the development of large lithium batteries that can be used, in particular, in the electric vehicle market where a pressing need has developed in view of the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the environment.

Thus there is a need to make use of a new procedure that is simpler and more reproducible, less complicated than those that are already known, while offering improved performance, in particular for any new technique that makes it possible to produce significant quantities of material without losing control of the quality, which is associated with the purity of the phases obtained and the obtaining of granulometries that are especially suited to electrochemical applications, and do so in a reproducible way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes a method of synthesis for compounds of the formula Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n), by bringing into equilibrium, in the required proportions, a mixture containing precursors of the constituents of the compound and reduction of the equilibrated mixture of the precursors with a reducing gas atmosphere. The initial mixture can be supplemented with a source of carbon, which makes possible the preparation of compounds of the formula Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) in the form of a material made up of carbon-coated grains. The material thus obtained has an excellent size and grains that can be controlled in form and conductivity.

These materials can especially be used for the preparation of electrochemical cells having an electrolyte and at least two electrodes, of which at least one comprises at least one material synthesized according to one of the method according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: 1^(st) cycle obtained by slow voltametry (v=20 mV·h⁻¹) at 80° C. for a battery containing non-carbonated LiFePO₄, synthesized using FePO₄.2H₂O (reduction by hydrogen) (solid lines) compared to the same sample after carbonization (dotted lines).

FIG. 2: Morphology of carbonated LiFePO₄ synthesized using FePO₄.2H₂O (reduction by hydrogen). Micrograph taken on a scanning electron microscope with 5000× magnification.

FIG. 3: 5^(th) cycle obtained by slow voltametry (v=20 mV·h⁻¹) at 80° C. of a battery containing carbonated LiFePO₄, synthesized using FePO₄.2H₂O (reduction by hydrogen) (solid lines) compared to the LiFePO₄ obtained according to CA-A-2,270,771 followed by a carbon deposition step (dotted lines).

FIG. 4: Profiles of charging and discharging carried out in galvanostatic mode at 80° C. and at two charging and discharging speeds (C/8: solid lines and C/2: dotted lines) for batteries containing carbonated LiFePO₄ synthesized using FePO₄.2H₂O (reduction by hydrogen).

FIG. 5: Trend in the cycling capacity of a battery containing carbonated LiFePO₄ synthesized using FePO₄.2H₂O according to example 2 (reduction by hydrogen)−slow voltametry (v=20 mV·h⁻¹) at 80° C. of a battery containing LiFePO₄ synthesized using FePO₄.2H₂O (reduction by carbon).

FIG. 6: 5^(th) cycle obtained by slow voltametry (v=20 mV·h⁻¹) at 80° C. of batteries containing carbonated LiFePO₄ synthesized using FePO₄.2H₂O (reduction by 1:1 CO/CO₂). for samples containing different carbon percentages (0.62%: solid lines, 1.13% dotted lines, 1.35% bold lines).

FIG. 7: Scanning electron microscopy—agglomerated nanoparticles of Budenheim FePO₄.2H₂O (grade E53-81).

FIG. 8: Scanning electron microscopy showing a particle of the LiFePO type obtained by reaction in solid state between agglomerated nanoparticles of Budenheim FePO₄.2H₂O (grade E53-81) and Limtech Li₂CO₃ (99.9%) in the presence of a carbonated polyethylene-type additive.

FIG. 9: Scanning electron microscopy of dense particles of ferric phosphate dihydrate, Budenheim grade E53-82.

FIG. 10: Triphylite synthesized using dense particles of ferric phosphate, Budenheim grade E53-82, in the presence of a polyethylene-type carbonated additive.

FIG. 11: 5^(th) cycle obtained by slow voltametry (80° C., mV·h⁻¹) for the sample prepared using iron phosphate from example 4 and using iron phosphate from example 5.

FIG. 12: Trend in capacity obtained during discharging in the course of cycling for the sample prepared using iron phosphate from example 4 and phosphate from example 5 (slow cycling voltametry 20 mV·¹, 80° C.).

FIG. 13: Charging and discharging profiles obtained by slow voltametry (20 mV·h⁻¹, 80° [C.]) of a LiFePO₄ sample produced on the pilot scale using 6 μm FePO₄2H₂O (reduction by 1:1 CO/CO₂) according to example 7.

FIG. 14: Charging and discharging profiles obtained by slow voltametry (20 mV·h⁻¹, 80° C.) of a LiFePO₄ sample prepared using FePO₄2H₂O according to example 8.

FIG. 15: Charging and discharging profiles obtained using slow voltametry (20 mV·h⁻¹, 80° C.) of a LiFePO₄ sample prepared using FePO₄2H₂O according to example 9.

FIG. 16: Charging and discharging curves of a battery cycled in galvanostatic mode between 3 and 4.3 volts according to example 10.

FIG. 17: LiFePO₄ obtained using FePO₄.2H₂O and Li₂CO₃ dispersed and dried by spray drying in the presence of carbonated additive derived from cellulose according to example 12.

FIG. 18: LiFePO₄ observed by transmission electron microscopy according to example 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first object of the present invention is a method for the synthesis of compounds of the formula C—Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n), wherein C represents carbon cross-linked with the compound of the formula Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄) in which x, y and n are numbers such as 0≦x≦2, 0≦y≦0.6, and 1≦n≦1.5, M is a transition metal or a mixture of transition metals from the first line of the periodic table, M′ is an element with fixed valency selected among Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Al³⁺, Zn²⁺ or a combination of these same elements and X is chosen among S, P and Si,

-   -   by bringing into equilibrium, in the required proportions, a         mixture (preferably intimate and/or homogeneous) comprising at         least:         -   a) a source of M,         -   b) a source of an element M′;         -   c) a compound that is a source of lithium; and         -   d) possibly a compound that is a source of X,         -   e) a source of carbon, called carbon conductor             the sources of the elements M, M′, Li and X may be             introduced or not, in whole or in part, in at least one             step, in the form of compounds having more than one source             element, and             the synthesis being carried out by thermodynamic or kinetic             reaction and bringing into equilibrium, in the required             proportions, the mixture of the source compounds (also             called precursors) a) to d), with a gaseous atmosphere, in             such a way as to cause an oxidation state of the transition             metal to the desired valency (preferably, this valency is             equal to two for iron, manganese, cobalt and nickel, and             three or four for titanium and vanadium) for the             constitution of Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n), by controlling             the composition of the said gaseous atmosphere, the             temperature of the synthesis reaction step, and the amount             of the source compound c) relative to the other source             compounds a), b) and d);             the method comprising at least one pyrolysis step of the             source compound e) such as to obtain a compound whose             electronic conductivity, measured on a sample of powder             compressed at a pressure of 3750 Kg·cm⁻², is greater than             10⁻⁸ S·cm⁻¹.

The conductivity measurement is carried out on powders of the sample. This powder (from 100 mg to about 1 g) is placed in a hollow cylindrical mold, 1.3 cm in diameter, made of poly(oxymethylene) (Delrin®) and it is compacted between two stainless steel pistons with a laboratory press having a force of 5·10³ Kg, which corresponds to a pressure of 3750 Kg·cm⁻².

The conductivity measurement is carried out by using the pistons (plungers) as electrodes and using the complex impedance method known to the person skilled in the art. The conductivity is obtained from the resistance, using the formula

ρ = RS/1

where R is the measured resistance, S is the surface (1.33 cm² for 1.3 cm diameter), l is the thickness of the sample and the resistivity is determined using the formula

ρ = RS/l.

According to an advantageous variation, at least one part of the said transition metal or metals that constitutes M is in an oxidation state greater or less than that of the metal in the final compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n).

The synthesis reaction between the source compounds a) to d) is advantageously carried out simultaneously with the pyrolysis reaction of the source compound e).

According to a preferred embodiment of the synthesis according to the present invention, the pyrolysis reaction is carried out in a second step, consecutive to the synthesis reaction between the source compounds a) to d) and preferably in reducing or neutral gas atmosphere.

The synthesized compounds of the formula C—Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄) are advantageously obtained in the form of particles and in which the size and/or the shape of the particles of the compound C—Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄) is determined essentially by the size and the shape of the intimate and/or homogeneous mixture of the precursors used for the synthesis reaction, and more specifically by the size and/or the shape of the initial precursors M and M′. In this case, the size of the particles of compound C—Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) obtained is between 0.1 and 10 micrometers.

Preferably, the size and the shape of the particles of compound C—Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) do not differ by more than 80% from that of precursors a) to d), preferably in which the size and the shape of the particles of compound C—Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) do not differ by more than 80% from that of precursor a) and if necessary, from that of precursor b).

According to an advantageous embodiment of this synthesis, the amount of carbon-source compound (called carbon conductor) is chosen in such a way as to coat at least a part of the surface of the particles of the compound of formula Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) with carbon.

The amount of bound carbon is less than 5%, preferably less than 3%, of the mass of the compound of formula Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n).

Preferably, at least 30% of the surface of the particles of the compound of formula Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) is covered with carbon.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the amount of carbon conductor source compound in the reaction medium is chosen in such a way as to bond the particles of compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) with each other and to constitute agglomerates with sizes comprised between 1 and 20 microns. The amount of bound carbon is thus less than 7%, preferably less than 5%, of the mass of the compound of formula Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n).

The procedure according to the invention makes it possible to control the final form of the compound C—Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) by choosing the form given to the mixture of precursors a) to d) before synthesis. Thus, a technique used to give a specific form to the mixture of precursors is advantageously chosen from among the techniques of spray-drying, precipitation, coprecipitation, agglomeration and/or pelletization.

When the technique used to give a specific form to the mixture of precursors is spray-drying, the final form of the compound C—Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) that is obtained is spherical agglomerates with sizes comprised between 1 and 30 micrometers, said agglomerates being constituted of smaller particles of the compound of formula C—Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n).

According to a preferred method, the organic substance that is the source of the carbon conductor is selected from the group constituted by polymers and oligomers containing a carbon skeleton, simple carbohydrates or polymers and the aromatic hydrocarbons.

According to another preferred method, the carbon conductor source contains, in the same compound or in the mixture that makes up this source, oxygen and hydrogen that are bound chemically and from which pyrolysis locally releases carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen and water vapor that contributes, in addition to depositing carbon, to creating locally the reducing atmosphere required for synthesis of the material Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n).

Preferably, the conductor carbon source compound is mainly constituted by a block copolymer comprising at least one carbon source segment that can be pyrolyzed and a segment that is soluble in water and organic solvents in such a way as to allow its distribution, preferably homogeneously, throughout the compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) or its precursors.

Advantageously, the organic carbon conductor source substance is at least one of the compounds of the group constituted by polyethylene, polypropylene, glucose, fructose, sucrose, xylose, sorbose, starch, cellulose and its esters, block polymers of ethylene and ethylene oxide and polymers of furfuryl alcohol.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the synthesis according to the present invention, the source compounds a) to d) are in the form of powder or at least partially compressed in the form of pastilles, prior to the synthesis (preferably carried out in continuous mode), in such a way as to increase the points of contact between the reagents and to increase the density of the final product while allowing the reaction with the gaseous phase.

The gaseous phase can circulate in the reactor in the same direction or preferably, counter-current to the precursor feed.

Preferably, the carbon conductor source compound is present at the time of the compacting step for the compounds a) to d).

The method of synthesis is preferably carried out continuously, preferably in a reactor that promotes the equilibrium of solid powders, agglomerated or not, with the gaseous phase, e.g. from among those reactors, rotary kilns, fluidized beds, belt-driven kilns, that allow control of the composition and the circulation of the gaseous atmosphere. In this case, the solid feed is greater than 1 kg/h, the temperatures are preferably between 650 and 800 degrees Celsius, the dwell time is preferably less than 5 hours, and even more preferably less than ½ hour.

The reduction is preferably obtained by the action of a reducing atmosphere chosen in such a way as to be able to reduce the oxidation state of the metallic ion M to the level required for the composition of the compound without reducing it to the neutral metallic state.

The reducing atmosphere advantageously contains hydrogen or a gas that is capable of generating hydrogen under the synthesis conditions, ammonia or a substance capable of generating ammonia under the synthesis conditions or carbon monoxide, these gases being used in their pure state or in mixtures and it also being possible to use them in the presence of water vapor and/or in the presence of carbon dioxide and/or in the presence of a neutral gas (such as nitrogen or argon).

According to another preferred embodiment, the reducing atmosphere is made up of a mixture of CO/CO₂ or H₂/H₂O, NH₃/H₂O or a mixture of them, generating an oxygen equilibrium pressure less than or equal to that determined by the transition metal at the state of oxidation corresponding to the precursors introduced to form the compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n), but greater than that corresponding to the reduction of any one of the transition elements present in the metallic state, ensuring the thermodynamic stability of Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) in the reaction mixture, independently of the synthesis reaction time.

Preferably, the gaseous atmosphere is made of a mixture of CO/CO₂ or H₂/H₂O, NH₃/H₂O or a mixture of them, generating an oxygen equilibrium pressure greater than or equal to that determined by at least the transition elements, when the precursor is introduced in the metallic form, to form the compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n), but greater than that corresponding to a superoxidation of the transition elements beyond their assigned valence in Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n), ensuring the thermodynamic stability of Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) in the reaction mixture, independently of the synthesis reaction time.

The reducing atmosphere is preferably made up of a mixture of CO/CO₂, H₂/H₂O, NH₃/H₂O or a mixture of them, generating an oxygen equilibrium pressure less than or equal to that determined by one of the transition metals present in Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n), possibly being able to lead to a reduction of at least this transition element to the metallic state, the compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) being obtained by controlling the temperature and the contact time with the gaseous phase or the proportion of the precursor c) in the reaction mixture; the synthesis temperature preferably being comprised between 200 and 1200° C., still more preferably between 500 and 800° C. and the time of contact between the reaction mixture and the gaseous phase preferably being comprised between 2 minutes and 5 hours and still more preferably between 10 and 60 minutes.

The gaseous reducing atmosphere can advantageously be obtained by decomposition, in a vacuum or in an inert atmosphere, of an organic compound or of a mixture of organic compounds containing at least hydrogen and oxygen, bound chemically, and of which the pyrolysis generates carbon monoxide and/or a mixture of carbon dioxide and monoxide, of hydrogen and/or a mixture of hydrogen and water vapor that is able to carry out the reduction that leads to the formation of the compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n).

According to a preferred variation, the gaseous reducing atmosphere is obtained by partial oxidation by oxygen or by air, of a hydrocarbon and/or of carbon, possibly in the presence of water vapor (preferably water vapor and in an amount between 0.1 and 10 molecules, inclusively, of H₂O per atom of carbon in the hydrocarbon) at an elevated temperature (preferably between 400 and 1200° C.), making possible the formation of carbon monoxide or hydrogen or of a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

The gaseous phase is made up of a gas that is reformed in-situ or ex-situ. In this case, the reformed gas atmosphere is obtained from methane, from propane, from a natural gas or from a mixture of these, with the addition of air and possibly of water vapor at a predetermined partial pressure, by condensation or injection into the reformed mixture.

Thermal processing (which includes the reaction for formation of Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) and reduction and pyrolysis, and possibly dehydration of one or several of sources a) to d)) is carried out by heating from normal temperature to a temperature between 500 and 1100° C. The maximum temperature reached is preferably between 500 and 800° C.

According to an advantageous method for carrying out the synthesis, the dwell time of the reagents in the thermal processing step is less than 5 hours, preferably less than 1 hour.

The synthesis according to the present invention makes it possible to prepare the compound of formula Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n), in which n=1, with an electrochemical capacity greater than 150 mAh/g⁻¹, measured for specific intensities greater than 10 mA·g⁻¹.

According to an advantageous method, the source of M is also the source of X and/or the source of M′ is also the source of X and/or the source of lithium is also the source of X and/or the source of X is also the source of lithium.

Bringing the mixture of precursors a) to d) to equilibrium is facilitated in the form of an intimate and/or homogeneous mixture of the solid phase and the gaseous phase.

Preferably the transition metal or metals is (are) chosen at least partially from the group constituted by iron, manganese, cobalt and nickel, the complement for the transition metals preferably being chosen from the group made up of vanadium, titanium, chromium and copper.

Advantageously, the compound that is the source of M is in an oxidation state that can vary from 3 to 7.

Preferably, the compound that is the source of M is iron (III) oxide or magnetite, manganese dioxide, di-vanadium pentoxide, trivalent ferric phosphate, ferric hydroxyphosphate and lithium or trivalent ferric nitrate or a mixture of the latter.

Advantageously, the compound that is the source of lithium is chosen from the group constituted of lithium oxide or lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, the neutral phosphate Li₃PO₄, the acid phosphate LiH₂PO₄, the orthosilicates, the metasilicates or the polysilicates of lithium, lithium sulfate, lithium oxalate and lithium acetate or a mixture of the latter. The compound that is the source of lithium is lithium carbonate of the formula Li₂CO₃.

The source of X is chosen from the group constituted by sulfuric acid, lithium sulfate, phosphoric acid and its esters, the neutral phosphate Li₃PO₄ or the acid phosphate LiH₂PO₄, the monoammonium or diammonium phosphates, trivalent ferric phosphate, manganese and ammonium phosphate (NH₄MnPO₄), silica, lithium silicates, alkoxysilanes and their partial hydrolysis products and mixtures of these. The compound that is the precursor of X is preferably ferric phosphate, anhydrous or hydrated.

The procedure according to the invention makes possible, in particular, the advantageous synthesis of one or several lithium derivatives of the formula LiFePO₄, LiFe_(1−s)Mn_(s)PO₄ wherein 0≦s≦0.9, LiFe_(1−y)Mg_(y)PO₄ and LiFe_(1−y)Ca_(y)PO₄ wherein 0≦y≦0.3, LiFe_(1−s−y)Mn_(s)Mg_(y)PO₄ wherein 0≦s≦1 and 0≦y≦0.2, Li_(1+x)FeP_(1−x)Si_(x)O₄ wherein 0≦x≦0.9, Li_(1+x)Fe_(1−s)Mn_(s)P_(1−x)Si_(x)O wherein 0≦s≦1, Li_(i+z)Fe_(1−s−z)Mn_(s)P_(1−z)S_(z)O₄ wherein 0≦s≦1, 0≦z≦0.2, Li_(1+2q)Fe_(1−s−q)Mn_(s)PO₄ wherein 0≦s≦1, and 0≦q≦0.3, Li_(i+r)Fe_(1−s)Mn_(s)(S_(1−r)P_(r)O₄)_(1.5) wherein 0≦r≦1, 0≦s, t≦1 and Li_(0.5+u)Fe_(1−t)Ti_(t)(PO₄)_(1.5) wherein 0≦t≦1 and wherein 0≦u≦1.5.

Advantageously, the synthesis is used for compounds of the formula Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) that have an olivine or Nasicon structure, including the monoclinic form.

The reaction parameters, and in particular the kinetics of the reduction by the gaseous phase, are advantageously chosen in such a way that the carbon conductor will not be consumed in the reduction process.

The amount of substance that is the carbon conductor source, present in the reaction medium subjected to reduction, is chosen such that the amount of carbon conductor in the reaction medium will preferably be between 0.1 and 25%, and still more preferably it will be between 0.3 and 1.5% of the total mass of the reaction mixture.

The temperature and duration of the synthesis are chosen as a function of the nature of the transition metal, i.e. above a minimum temperature at which the reactive atmosphere is capable of reducing the transition element or elements to their oxidation state required in the compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄) and below a temperature or a time leading to a reduction of the transition element or elements to the metallic state or an oxidation of the carbon resulting from pyrolysis of the organic substance.

The thermal processing is preferably carried out by heating from the normal temperature to a temperature comprised between 500 and 1100° C., in the presence of a reducing atmosphere. Advantageously, the maximum temperature reached is between 500 and 800° C.

According to another advantageous method, the compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) is LiMPO₄, in which the amount of carbon conductor after pyrolysis is comprised between 0.1 and 10% by mass in comparison to the mass of the compound LiMPO₄.

The compound that is the source of carbon is preferably chosen in such a way that it is easily dispersible at the time of the processing used to insure an intimate mixture with precursors a) to d) by agitation and/or by solubilization, by mechanical grinding and/or by ultrasound homogenizing in the presence, or not, of a liquid or by spray-drying of a solution of one or several precursors and/or of a suspension and/or of an emulsion.

The synthesis is especially productive for preparation of the compound obtained with the formula LiFePO₄.

The core of the particles obtained is essentially (preferably at least 95%) constituted by a compound of the formula LiFePO₄, the complement advantageously being essentially constituted by compounds having a structure close to LiFePO₄ and in which the material obtained preferably has an amount of carbon conductor comprised between 0.2 and 5% in comparison to the mass of the particles obtained.

A second object of the invention consists of a material made of particles having a core and/or a coating and/or a cross-linking, the said core comprising at least one compound of the formula C—Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n), in which C represents carbon cross-linked to the compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n), x, y and n are numbers such as 0≦x≦2, 0≦y≦0.6, and 1<n≦1.5, M is a transition metal or a mixture of transition metals from the first line of the periodic table, M′ is an element with fixed valency chosen from among Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Al³⁺, Zn²⁺ and X is chosen from among S, P and Si, the said materials having a conductivity greater than 10⁻⁸ Scm-¹, on a sample of powder compacted at more than 3000 Kg·cm⁻², preferably at 3750 Kg·cm⁻² and of which the granulometry is preferably comprised between 0.05 and 15 micrometers, preferably between 0.1 and 10 micrometers.

These granulometry values include agglomerates of finer particles, possibly connected to each other by friction or cross-linked to each other by the carbon conductor and forming entities, preferably quasi-spherical.

According to another embodiment, this object consists of a material that can be obtained by a procedure according to the synthesis according to the first object of the invention, having a core and a coating and/or cross-linking, the said material having:

-   -   a conductivity, measured on a sample of powder compacted at 3750         Kg·cm⁻² that is greater than 10⁻⁸ S·cm⁻¹;     -   an amount of carbon conductor comprised between 0.2 and 5%;         preferably between 0.3 and 2%; and     -   a granulometry that is preferably comprised between 0.05 and 15         micrometers, preferably between 0.1 to 10 micrometers.

These granulometry values include agglomerates of finer particles, possibly bound to each other by sintering or cross-linked to each other by the carbon conductor and forming entities, preferably quasi-spherical.

A third object of the present application consists of an electrochemical cell comprising at least two electrodes and at least one electrolyte, characterized in that at least one of these electrodes contains at least one of the materials according to the second object of the present invention.

According to one advantageous method, the electrolyte is a polymer, solvating or not, optionally plasticized or gelled by a polar liquid containing one or more metallic salts in solution.

The electrolyte is a polar liquid immobilized in a microporous separator and containing one or several metallic salts in solution. Preferably at least one of these metallic salts is a lithium salt.

According to another advantageous method, at least one of the negative electrodes is made of metallic lithium, a lithium alloy, especially with aluminum, antimony, zinc, tin, possibly in nanomolecular mixture with lithium oxide or a carbon insertion compound, especially graphite, a double nitride of lithium and iron, cobalt or manganese, a lithium titanate of the formula Li_(x)Ti_((5+3y)/4)O₄, where 1≦x≦(11−3y)/4 (or) where 0≦y≦1.

Advantageously, one of the positive electrodes contains one of the products obtainable by a method according to the invention, used alone or in mixture with a double oxide of cobalt and lithium or with a complex oxide of the formula Li_(x)Ni_(1−y−z−q−r)Co_(y)Mg_(z)Al_(r)O₂ wherein 0.1≦x≦1, 0≦y, z and r≦0.3, or with a complex oxide of the formula Li_(x)Mn_(1−y−z−q−r)Co_(y)Mg_(z)AlrO₂-qF_(q) wherein 0.05≦x≦1 and 0≦y, z, r, q≦0.3.

The polymer used to bond the electrodes or as electrolytes is advantageously a polyether, a polyester, a polymer based on methyl methacrylate units, an acrylonitrile-based polymer and/or a vinylidene fluoride or a mixture of the latter.

The cell can comprise a non-protogenic solvent that contains, e.g. ethylene or propylene carbonate, an alkyl carbonate having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, γ-butyrolactone, a tetraalkylsulfamide, an α-ω dialkyl ether of a mono-, di-, tri-, tetra- or oligo-ethylene glycol with molecular weight less than or equal to 5000, as well as mixtures of the above-mentioned solvents.

The cell according to the present invention preferably functions as a primary or secondary generator, as a super-capacity or as a light modulation system.

Advantageously, the cell according to the invention functions as a super-capacity in that the positive electrode material is the second object of the invention and the negative electrode is a carbon with a specific surface area greater than 1 m²·g⁻¹, preferably greater than 5 m²·g⁻¹, in the form of powder, fiber or mesoporous composite of a carbon-carbon composite type.

The electrochemical cell can also function as a light modulation system and in this case, the optically inactive counter-electrode is a material according to the second object of the invention, spread in a thin layer on a transparent conductor support of a glass or polymer type covered with doped tin oxide (SnO₂:Sb or SnO₂:F) or doped indium oxide (In₂O₃:Sn).

Preferred Methods

The proposed invention relates to a new method for simplified synthesis of Li_(x)MXO₄ compounds with olivine structure obtained by reduction of a mixture, in which at least a part of the transition metal M is in an oxidation state higher than that of the final compound LiMPO₄. Another surprising advantage of the present invention is to also be compatible with the synthesis described in CA-A-2,270,771, which leads to optimized performance. In this case, the organic compound that is the source of carbon is added to the mixture of initial reagents containing at least one part of transition metal in an oxidation state higher than that of the lithium compound LiMPO₄ and the simplified synthesis leads directly to the material covered in carbon in a low amount without the latter being oxidized by the reduction of the metal with higher oxidation state. The simplification involves, in particular, the reduction in the number of steps and above all, in the number of steps where control of the atmosphere is necessary. Reference can be made to “Modern Batteries”, by C. A. Vincent & B. Scrosati, Arnold publishers, London, Sydney, Auckland, (1997).

The improvements also relate to the reproducibility of the synthesis, to the control of the size and distribution of the particles and to the reduction in the number and cost of initial reagents and naturally of the final material. This synthesis, when combined with the teachings of CA-A-2,270,771, also makes it possible to control the amount of carbon in the final material.

We are reporting here, for the first time, the synthesis of a Li_(x)MXO₄ compound of olivine type, in this case LiFePO₄, produced by reduction by a gaseous phase of an iron (III) salt. Since the initial salts are no longer very sensitive to oxidation, the synthesis process is greatly simplified. In addition, the possible use of Fe₂O₃ as a source of iron considerably reduces the cost of synthesizing LiFePO₄. This material would thus be preferable to other cathode materials for lithium batteries, such as cobalt or nickel oxide in the case of lithium-ion batteries, or vanadium oxides V₂O₅ or analogs that are less inoffensive to the environment.

LiFePO₄ can be prepared using an iron (III) salt that is stable in air, e.g. FePO₄.2H₂O or Fe₂O₃ or any other source of iron (III). The lithium source would be e.g. Li₂CO₃ in the first case, or LiOH. LiH₂PO₄ or Li₃PO₄ would be used as a source of both lithium and phosphorus in the second case. The stoichiometric mixtures, as well as the carbon precursor, are processed at 700° C. for 4 hours with scavenging by an excess of reducing atmosphere in such a way as to reduce the oxidation state of the iron. The choice of the synthesis atmosphere and temperature is very important in order to be able to reduce the iron (III) to iron (II) without the gaseous atmosphere or the carbon present being able to reduce the iron to the metallic state. The latter will preferably, but in a non-limiting manner, be made up e.g. of hydrogen, ammonia, of a gaseous mixture capable of supplying hydrogen under the synthesis conditions, the hydrogen being able to be used pure or diluted in a dry or hydrated inert gas, carbon monoxide, possibly mixed with carbon dioxide and/or a dry or hydrated neutral gas. The maximum thermal processing temperature is chosen such that the carbon present will be thermodynamically stable with respect to the iron (II) and preferably with respect to the gaseous phase. In the case of iron, the limit temperature zone is between 500 and 800° C., preferably around 700° C. Beyond these temperatures, the carbon becomes reducing enough to reduce the iron (II) to metallic iron. In the case of other transition metals, any person skilled in the art would be able to use Ellingham curves to adapt the temperature and the nature of the gaseous atmosphere in order to obtain an equivalent result.

An unexpected and surprising aspect of the invention that is advantageous is the relative chemical inertia of the carbon deposited on the surface of the material with respect to reactions that make it possible to reduce the degree of oxidation of the transition metal, in particular, of iron. From a thermodynamic point of view, the carbon formed by decomposition of the pyrolyzed organic substance has a reducing power that is adequate to oxidize into CO₂ or CO and to reduce, even in an inert atmosphere, Iron (III) to Iron (II), which would make controlling the amount of carbon in the final product difficult, especially at the low amounts of carbon used in the present invention. The inventors have noted that the reduction reaction was essentially due to the action of the reducing gas atmosphere, of which the kinetics are faster than those due to the action of the carbon deposited on the surface, in spite of intimate contact between the two solid phases (carbon and redox material). By using a reducing atmosphere, preferably based on hydrogen, ammonia or carbon monoxide, the reduction of the iron by the solid carbon is not promoted kinetically and the Iron (III) is reduced to Iron (II) mainly by reaction with the reducing atmosphere. The amount of carbon in the final product thus essentially corresponds to the decomposition yield of the organic substance, which makes it possible to control this amount.

A surprising effect of the present invention, using an equilibrated reaction in the gaseous phase and the solid reagents, is to be able to obtain the compound C—LiM′M″(XO)_(n) using iron in a state of oxidation by using gaseous mixtures of CO/CO₂.

The following examples are given to better illustrate the present invention, but they should not be interpreted as constituting a limitation to the scope of the present invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Synthesis of LiFePO₄ Using Iron Phosphate in Reducing Atmosphere

LiFePO₄ was prepared by reaction of FePO₄.2H₂O and Li₂CO₃ in the presence of hydrogen. In a first step, stoichiometric quantities of the two compounds are ground together in isopropanol, then heated progressively (6 C per minute up to 700° C.) in a tube kiln under reducing gas scavenging (8% hydrogen in argon). This temperature is maintained for one hour. The sample is cooled for 40 minutes, which would be with a cooling speed of around 15° C. per minute.

The reducing gas flow is maintained during the entire thermal processing time and also during the temperature drop. The total thermal processing time is around 3 and a half hours.

The structure of the sample was verified by X-ray diffraction and the rays correspond to those of the pure triphylite LiFePO₄ and the electronic conduction of the LiFePO₄ powder thus obtained, compressed at 5 tons for 1.3 cm diameter, is too low to be measured.

Example 1′ Preparation of LiFePO₄ Coated with Carbon Synthesized Using the Sample Prepared in Example 1

The triphylite obtained in example 1 is impregnated with a solution of cellulose acetate (39.7% by weight of acetyl, average molecular weight M_(w) of 50,000) in acetone. The quantity of cellulose acetate added represents 5% of the weight of the triphylite processed. The use of a carbon precursor in solution makes possible a perfect distribution over the particles of triphylite. After drying, the mixture is placed in the kiln described above under scavenging by an argon atmosphere. The temperature is increased by 6° C. per minute up to 700° C. The latter temperature is maintained for one hour. The sample is then cooled progressively, still under argon scavenging. This sample contains 1% by weight of carbon, which corresponds to a carbonization yield of the cellulose acetate of 20%.

The material exhibits electronic surface conductivity. The latter was measured on a pastille of compacted powder. A force of 5 tons is applied at the time of measurement on a sample that is 1.3 cm in diameter. Under these conditions, the electronic conductivity measured is 5·10⁻⁵ S·cm⁻¹.

Example 1″ Comparison of the Electrochemical Behavior of Materials Prepared in Examples 1 and 1′ in Electrochemical Cells

The materials prepared in example 1 and 1′ were tested in button-type CR 2032 cells of lithium polymer batteries at 80° C. The cathodes were prepared by mixing the powder of the active material with carbon black (Ketjenblack®) to insure electronic exchange with the current collector and poly(ethylene oxide) with mass 400,000 used as the binding agent on one hand, and ionic conductor on the other. The proportions by weight are 51:7:42. Acetonitrile is added to the mixture to dissolve the poly(ethylene oxide) in a quantity that is adequate to form a homogeneous suspension. This suspension is then dripped onto a 1 cm² stainless steel disk. The cathode thus prepared is dried in a vacuum, then transferred in a glove box under helium atmosphere (<1 ppm H₂O, O₂). A sheet of lithium (27 μm thick) laminated on a nickel substrate was used as the anode. The polymer electrolyte was made of poly(ethylene oxide) with mass 5,000,000 and a bistrifluorosulfonimide lithium salt Li[(CF₃SO₂)₂N]) (hereinafter referred to as LiTFSI) in oxygen proportions of oxyethylene units/lithium ions of 20:1.

Electrochemical experiments were carried out at 80° C., the temperature at which the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte is adequate (2×10⁻³ Scm⁻¹).

FIG. 1 shows the first cycle obtained by slow voltametry, a technique well known to the person skilled in the art (20 mV·h⁻¹), controlled by a Macpile® model battery cycler (Biologic™, Claix, France), of the samples prepared in example 1 and 1′.

The non-carbonated compound in example 1 presents the oxidoreduction peaks characteristic of LiFePO₄. The capacity exchanged at the time of the reduction process represents 74% of the theoretical value. The reaction kinetics are slow and the discharge extends to 3 volts. These capacity and kinetic limitations of the reactions are currently observed for the samples of non-carbonated LiFePO₄. The carbonated compound from example 1′ shows well-defined oxidoreduction peaks and reaction kinetics that are much more rapid than those of the material resulting from the synthesis described in example 1. The capacity achieved in discharge is 87% of the theoretical value, which represents an improvement in the electrochemical generator capacity of 17% in comparison to that of the non-carbonated sample in example 1.

Example 2 Synthesis of Carbonated LiFePO₄ in One Step Using Iron Phosphate in Reducing Atmosphere

Carbonated LiFePO₄ was prepared by reducing reaction of FePO₄.2H₂O and Li₂CO₃ in the presence of hydrogen. In a first step, the stoichiometric quantities of the two compounds, as well as the carbon source, (cellulose acetate, 39.7% by weight of acetyl, average molecular weight M_(w) of 50,000) in low proportion (5% by weight in comparison to the weight of FePO₄ 2H₂O, i.e. 4.2% in comparison to the weight of the mixture of FePO₄.2H₂O and Li₂CO₃), are crushed together in isopropanol. The solvent is evaporated and the mixture subjected to the thermal processing described in examples 1 and 1′. Throughout the entire thermal processing and also at the time of the temperature drop, the reducing atmosphere is applied by a scavenging of a mixture of 8% hydrogen in the argon.

The structure of the sample was verified using X-ray diffraction and the rays correspond to those of pure triphylite LiFePO₄.

The sample prepared is made up of very fine particles on the order of a micron (FIG. 2). These particles are covered with a fine layer of carbon, of which the weight represents 1.2% of the total weight of the sample, measured by gravimetry after dissolving the core of LiFePO₄ in 2M hydrochloric acid.

The material exhibits electronic surface conductivity. The latter was measured according to the procedure described in example 1′. Under these conditions, the electronic conductivity measured is 2·10⁻³ S·cm⁻¹.

Taking into account the residual quantity of carbon in the sample, the carbonating yield of the cellulose acetate at the time of synthesis is 20%. It is important to note that this yield is identical to that obtained in example 1′, where the triphylite LiFePO₄ is already formed and no reducing step is necessary. Thus it is evident that the carbon that comes from decomposition of the cellulose acetate is not consumed and does not interfere in the reaction that reduces iron (III) to iron (II). Thus this reduction is carried out by means of the gaseous phase.

Example 2′ Comparison of the Electrochemical Behavior of the Carbonated Triphylite LiFePO₄ Prepared in Example 1 to that of a Sample of Carbonated Triphylite Synthesized by Another Method

The material prepared in example 2 was tested in CR 2032 button cells described in example F. For comparison, we also are reporting several results obtained for the best carbonated sample synthesized using iron (II) (vivianite Fe₃(PO₄)₂.8H₂O), the synthesis of which has already been described in CA-A-2,270,771.

FIG. 3 presents the 5^(th) cycle obtained by slow voltametry (20 mV·⁻¹) controlled by a battery cycler of the Macpile® type with the sample resulting from classic synthesis (dotted lines) on one hand, to that obtained in example 2 (solid lines) on the other. The two syntheses lead to samples having the same electrochemical behavior on the level of oxidoreduction potentials and electrochemical kinetics.

The charging and discharging profiles of batteries assembled with the sample resulting from the synthesis described in example 2 are presented in FIG. 4 for two loads. These results are obtained in galvanostatic mode between 2.8 and 3.8 volts for two charging and discharging speeds C/8 and C/2 (the current applied (expressed in mA) at the time of charging or discharging corresponds to ⅛ (respectively ½) of the theoretical capacity of the battery expressed in mAh). We have reported the 20^(th) cycle and in the two cases, the discharge plateau is flat and the capacities involved correspond to 95% of the theoretical capacity.

The trend in capacities observed in discharging at the time of cycling during discharging is represented in FIG. 5. In both cases, the initial capacity is around 80% of the theoretical capacity but, after around ten cycles, it is greater than 95%, i.e. at 160 mAh·g⁻¹, and remains stable for the duration of the experiment. These results are comparable to those obtained with classic synthesis (reaction of divalent iron phosphate (vivianite) with lithium phosphate).

Example 3 Control of the Carbon Quantity

Samples of triphylite with different amounts of carbon were prepared by reaction of FePO₄.2H₂O and Li₂CO₃ in the presence of a 1:1 mixture by volume of CO/CO₂. This atmosphere was chosen for its reducing power with respect to iron (III) while maintaining a stability of the iron (II), in particular at the end of the cycle for the rise to the synthesis temperature at 700° C. In a first step, the stoichiometric quantities of the two compounds, as well as the cellulose acetate, are ground together in isopropanol. The cellulose acetate quantities added represent 2, 4 and 5%, respectively, of the mixture weight. After drying, these mixtures are heated progressively (6° C. per minute up to 700° C.) in a tube kiln with scavenging of the reducing gas (CO/CO₂: 1/1). This temperature is maintained for one hour. The sample is cooled for 40 minutes, which would be with a cooling speed of around 15° C. per minute. The reducing gas flow is maintained during the entire thermal processing time and also during the temperature drop. The total thermal processing time is around three and a half hours.

The structure of the samples was verified using X-ray diffraction and in all cases, the rays correspond to those of pure triphylite LiFePO₄.

The amounts of carbon were determined by elementary analysis. The results, as well as the electronic conductivities, of the samples are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 % Cellulose acetate Amount of C Yield (C) Conductivity 2 0.62 0.22 2 · 10⁻⁶ S · cm⁻¹ 4 1.13 0.2 1 · 10⁻³ S · cm⁻¹ 5 1.35 0.19 4 · 10⁻² S · cm⁻¹

In the three cases, the carbonization yield (yield (C) of table 1 for cellulose acetate) is close to 20%.

The residual carbon quantity has a significant influence on the electronic conductivity.

As can be seen, the quantities of carbon conductor are proportional to the quantity of precursor added (cellulose acetate). This demonstrates, in a formal way, that the carbon conductor does not participate in the reduction of iron (III) in the presence of reducing gas atmosphere, the latter reducing the iron compound with more rapid kinetics.

Example 3′ Comparison of Electrochemical Behavior of the Samples of Carbonated Triphylite Prepared in Example 3

The materials prepared in example 3 were tested in CR 2032 button cells described in example 1″.

FIG. 6 shows the 5^(th) cycle obtained by slow voltametry (20 mV·⁻¹) controlled by a battery cycler of the Macpile® type with:

-   -   the sample containing 0.62% carbon (solid lines)     -   the sample containing 1.13% carbon (dotted lines)     -   the sample containing 1.35% carbon (bold lines)

The main characteristics of the electrochemical behavior of these samples are summarized in Table 2 below:

TABLE 2 % Carbon 0.62 1.13 1.35 Capacity (mAh · g⁻¹) 150 160 163 % Theoretical capacity 88 94 96 I peak (mA) 52 60 73

The residual carbon quantity has an important influence on the capacity of the samples. In addition, the increase in the peak current with the amount of carbon indicates an improvement in the reaction kinetics. The latter reflects the increase in electronic conductivity with the amount of carbon explained in example 3.

The synthesis method described in example 3 makes it possible to reliably and reproducibly control the amount of carbon in the final material. This is essential, taking into account the influence of the amount of carbon on the electrochemical properties.

Examples 4 and 4′ Demonstration of Coating Power of the Polyethylene-Type Carbon Additive and of the Control of the Size of Particles by Coating Example 4

LiFePO₄ is synthesized by reaction in the solid state between FePO₄.2H₂O (Budenheim grade E53-81) and Li₂CO₃ (Limtech 99.9%) in the presence of a carbon additive of the polyethylene-block-poly(ethylene glycol) 50% ethylene oxide type (Aldrich) having a molar mass of 1400 dissolved in water. The particles of ferric phosphate dihydrate (FIG. 7) are between 0.1 μm and 6 μm in diameter. They are made up of agglomerates of nanoparticles on the order of 50 nm to 100 nm. The ferric phosphate is mixed with lithium carbonate and dispersed in water. The fraction of copolymer block added represents 3% w/w of the mass of phosphate and carbonate used. The precursors are dispersed in a ball mill, then dried using a Niro brand spray dryer. 200 g of the mixture are introduced into a Linder brand rotary batch kiln scavenged by 5 lpm of a 1:1 molar mixture of CO/CO₂. The 1:1 molar CO/CO₂ gaseous phase in equilibrium with the iron (II) insures reduction of the ferric phosphate to triphylite. The temperature rises gradually by 20° C. to 700° C. in 90 minutes, then it is held at 700° C. for 60 minutes. The sample is then cooled from 700° C. to ambient temperature in 30 minutes. The LiFePO₄ obtained using agglomerates of nanoparticles of FePO₄.2H₂O dispersed in the presence of the carbon additive is presented in FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is the scanning electron microscopy showing a typical particle of LiFePO₄ obtained by reaction in solid state between agglomerated nanoparticles of Budenheim FePO₄.2H₂O (grade E53-81) and Limtech Li₂CO₃ (99.9%) in the presence of a carbonated polyethylene-type additive according to example 4.

The LiFePO₄ essentially maintains the form and the initial size of the ferric phosphate particles. The carbon coating produced by pyrolysis of the carbonated additive completely suppresses the sintering and makes it possible to control the morphology of the final product. As in the preceding examples, the carbon coating improves the electronic conductivity of the LiFePO₄ containing 1% of carbon determined by elementary analysis.

Example 5 Synthesis of Dense Particles

LiFePO₄ is synthesized by reaction in the solid state between FePO₄.2H₂O (Budenheim grade E53-82) and Li₂CO₃ (Limtech 99.9%) in the presence of a carbon additive of the polyethylene-block-poly(ethylene glycol) 50% ethylene oxide type (Aldrich) having a molar mass of 1400 dissolved in water. The dense particles of ferric phosphate dihydrate (FIG. 9) of between 0.1 μm and 20 μm are mixed with lithium carbonate and crushed in water. The fraction of block copolymer added represents 3% w/w of the mass of phosphate and carbonate used. The precursors are crushed in a ball mill, then dried using a Niro brand spray dryer. The mixture is introduced into a Linder brand rotary batch kiln scavenged by 5 lpm of a 1:1 molar mixture of CO/CO₂. The 1:1 molar CO/CO₂ gaseous phase in equilibrium with the iron (II) insures reduction of the ferric phosphate to triphylite. The temperature rises gradually by 20° C. to 700° C. in 90 minutes, then it is held at 700° C. for 60 minutes. The sample is then cooled from 700° C. to ambient temperature in 30 minutes. The LiFePO₄ obtained using dense FePO₄.2H₂O crushed in the presence of carbonated additive is presented in FIG. 10. The elementary analysis indicates that it contains 1.2% C.

In comparison, the typical morphology of LiFePO₄ in FIG. 10 is denser and less porous than the LiFePO₄ in FIG. 8 and essentially retains the shape and the size of the particles of the precursor FePO₄ 2H₂O, illustrated in FIG. 9. The reaction products of examples 4 and 5 have a similar average apparent granulometry mainly made up of particles of 0.1 μm and 6 μm in diameter that differ in their density and are more or less porous depending on the initial precursors. The carbonated additives of the polyethylene type coat the grains of ferric phosphate at the time of drying by spray drying. At the time of thermal processing, the carbonated additive pyrolyzes and coats the particles with a fine layer of carbon. This layer of carbon totally suppresses the sintering, thus preserving the initial shape and size of the ferric phosphate in the precursor mixture after grinding with lithium carbonate. The carbonated additive makes it possible to control the agglomeration of the final LiFePO₄ by suppressing sintering at the time of thermal processing. The particles formed using dense ferric phosphate present a greater compactness and make possible the fabrication of dense electrodes (“loading”). Dense electrode is understood here as a large quantity of active material (LiFePO₄) per volume unit. As in the preceding examples, the coating of this fine layer of carbon improves the electronic conductivity of the product and increases the electrochemical performance of the composite electrode.

Example 6 Comparison of the Electrochemical Behavior of Materials Prepared in Examples 4 and 5 in Electrochemical Cells

The materials prepared in examples 4 and 5 were tested in CR 2032 button cells of lithium polymer batteries at 80° C. The cathodes were prepared by mixing the powder of the active material with carbon black (Ketjenblack®) to insure electronic exchange with the current collector and poly(ethylene oxide) with mass 400,000 used as the binding agent on one hand, and ionic conductor on the other. The proportions by weight are 51:7:42. Acetonitrile is added to the mixture to dissolve the poly(ethylene oxide) in a quantity that is adequate to form a homogeneous suspension. The suspension obtained is then dripped onto a 1 cm² stainless steel disk. The cathode thus prepared is dried in a vacuum, then transferred in a glove box under helium atmosphere (<1 ppm H₂O, O₂). A sheet of lithium (27 μm) laminated on a nickel substrate was used as the anode. The polymer electrolyte was made of poly(ethylene oxide) with mass 5,000,000 and a bistrifluorosulfonimide lithium salt Li[(CF₃SO₂)₂N]) (hereinafter referred to as LiTFSI) in oxygen proportions of oxyethylene units/lithium ions of 20:1.

Electrochemical experiments were carried out at 80° C., the temperature at which the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte is adequate (2×10⁻³ Scm⁻¹).

FIG. 11 shows the first cycle obtained by slow voltametry, a technique well known to the person skilled in the art (20 mV·⁻¹), controlled by a Macpile® model battery cycler (Biologic™, Claix, France), of the samples prepared in examples 4 and 5 with a current peak around 70 mA/g. The two samples present excellent electrochemical performance in cycling, see FIG. 12.

Example 7 Continuous Production in Electrical Rotary Kiln

The Budenheim (grade E53-81) ferric phosphate dihydrate (FePO₄.2H₂O) (FIG. 7) is mixed in stoichiometric quantity in water with lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) from Limtech (99.9%) using a ball mill. The ferric phosphate dihydrate is present in the form of fine powder having elementary particles between 0.1 μm and 6 μm in diameter. These elementary particles are formed of agglomerates of nanoparticles. Polyethylene-block-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer as described in example 4 is added as carbon additive that improves the conductivity of the final product by pyrolysis at the time of thermal processing of the precursor mixture. The mass of block copolymer equals 3% w/w of the quantity of ferric phosphate and lithium carbonate. The following reagent quantities are used:

-   -   FePO₄.2H₂O (Budenheim grade E53-81)=40 kg     -   Li₂CO₃ (Limtech 99.9%)=7.91 kg     -   Copolymer PE/PEO=1.44 kg     -   Demineralized water=40 liters

The mixture is dried using a Niro brand spray dryer, then fed to an ABB-Raymond rotary kiln. The rotary kiln is 16.5 cm in diameter and 3 m long. The mixture of precursors is fed at 1.4 kg/h in order to obtain a production of around 1 kg/h of LiFePO₄ during a period of 34 hours. The precursor feed is adjusted so that the fill percentage of the kiln does not exceed 8% of the internal volume of the kiln, thus insuring uniformity of the stirring and the exchange with the gaseous phase at the time of thermal processing. A gaseous mixture in equilibrium with the iron (II) is introduced into the kiln counter-current to the precursor mixture. The reduction of iron (III) to iron (II) is carried out by CO/CO₂ diluted in nitrogen in the following proportions:

-   -   3 lpm of CO     -   2.4 lpm of CO₂     -   15 lpm of N₂

The rotary kiln turns at 2 rpm with an angle of 1°. The mixture enters the cold zone at 200° C. then rises to 700° C. in 80 minutes (6.3° C./minute) The calcined product remains at 700° C. for 40 minutes then cools from 700° C. to ambient temperature in 40 minutes. The recovered product contains 0.9% of carbon produced by pyrolysis of the polyethylene-based polymer. An X-ray analysis confirms that the product is triphylite. The elementary particles from 0.1 μm to 6 μm have an average diameter (d₅₀) of around 2 μm. They are formed of agglomerates of nanoparticles of several dozen nanometers, similar to the initial product. The partially sintered nanoparticles promote good current density due to their large specific surface area. In addition, the carbon coating promotes an elevated electronic conductivity, an essential criterion in the fabrication of an electrode having an elevated current density and an output close to the theoretical output of LiFePO₄, i.e. 170 mAh/g.

The material prepared was tested in CR 2032 button cells described in example 6 and exhibit an output of 96% (164 mAh/g) illustrated in FIG. 13.

Example 8 Reducing Gas from Partial Combustion of Natural Gas

LiFePO₄ is synthesized by reaction in the solid state between Budenheim FePO₄.2H₂O (grade E53-81) and Li₂CO₃ from Limtech (99.9%) in the presence of a carbon additive of the polyethylene-block-poly(ethylene glycol) 50% ethylene oxide type (Aldrich) having a molar mass of 1400 dissolved in water. Particles of ferric phosphate dihydrate of between 0.1 μm and 6 μm are mixed with lithium carbonate and crushed in water. The fraction of copolymer added represents 4% w/w of the mass of phosphate and carbonate used. The precursors are dispersed in a ball mill, then dried using a Niro brand spray dryer. The mixture is introduced into a Linder brand rotary batch kiln. A reducing mixture of partially burned natural gas in the presence of air in an external reformer. It is then introduced into the kiln at a rate of 5 lpm. The gaseous mixture is generated independently by mixing natural gas (methane) and air in a 1:5 ratio. The analysis of the gaseous mixture shows the following concentrations: 14% H₂, 14% H₂O, 11% CO, 3% CO₂ and 58% N₂. The temperature rises gradually from 20° C. to 700° C. in 90 minutes (7.6° C./minute), then it is held at 700° C. for 60 minutes. The sample is then cooled from 700° C. to ambient temperature in 30 minutes. The product obtained is similar to the one in FIG. 8. An X-ray analysis shows the olivine structure of the triphylite. The elementary analysis indicates that the sample contains 1.5% carbon.

The material prepared was tested in CR 2032 button cells described in example 6. It exhibits an output of about 92% (155 mAh/g), see FIG. 14.

Example 9 Reducing Gas from Partial Combustion of Propane

LiFePO₄ is synthesized by reaction in solid state between Budenheim ferric phosphate dihydrate (grade E53-81) and lithium carbonate (Limtech 99.9%). The two precursors are mixed in stoichiometric quantities then dispersed in water using a ball mill. A carbonated additive of the polyethylene-block-poly(ethylene glycol) type that is soluble in water is added to the mixture at the time of grinding. The fraction of copolymer added represents 4% w/w of the mass of phosphate and carbonate used. This additive will carbonize at the time when the mixture is processed thermally and will deposit a thin layer of carbon on the surface of the particles.

For this example, the following reagent quantities are used:

-   -   FePO₄.2H₂O (Budenheim E53-81)=100 kg     -   Li₂CO₃ (Limtech 99.9%)=19.78 kg     -   Copolymer PE/PEO=4.79 kg     -   Demineralized water=100 liters

The mixture, dispersed very homogeneously using a horizontal ball mill containing steel balls 2 mm in diameter, is dried using a Niro brand spray dryer. It is then fed into a Bartlett & Snow direct fired rotary kiln. The kiln has an interior diameter of 38.1 cm and an interior length of 4 m 80 [cm]. The precursor mixture is fed in counter-current to the gas in the kiln that is rotating at 3 rpm with an angle of 1°. The atmosphere in equilibrium with the iron (II) is generated in situ by partial combustion of the propane fed into the 500,000 BTU burner. For each mol of propane gas injected into the kiln, 13 moles of air (equivalent to 2.75 mols oxygen) are injected in order to partially burn the gas and generate a reducing atmosphere that makes it possible to reduce the ferric phosphate to triphylite. The chemical composition of the gaseous phase generated in situ is 13.6% CO, 3.2% CO₂, 12% H₂, 11.2% H₂O and 60% N₂.

The mixture is fed at 5 kg/h for 25 hours. It enters the kiln at around 200° C., then gradually rises to about 700° C. at 5° C./minute in order to promote complete reaction of the precursors. The product remains at around 700° C. for about 15 minutes. The LiFePO₄ is present in the form of a fine black non-agglomerated powder containing 1.5% of carbon produced by pyrolysis of the polyethylene-type carbon additive. The carbon fraction is obtained by elementary analysis.

The material prepared in example 9 was tested in CR 2032 button cells described in example 6. FIG. 15 shows that the material has an output of 90% with an current peak around 75 mAh/g.

Example 10 Preparation of LiFe_(0.5)Mn_(0.5)PO₄ in Reducing Atmosphere

LiFe_(0.5)Mn_(0.5)PO₄ was prepared by mixing stoichiometric quantities of LiH₂PO₄, FeC₂O₄.2H₂O and (CH₃COO)₂Mn.4H₂O. These compounds are ground in heptane. After drying, the mixture is heated progressively to 400° C. in air to decompose the acetate and oxalate groups. This temperature is maintained for 8 hours. In the course of this processing, iron (II) oxidizes to iron (III). The mixture is then ground again in an acetone solution containing the carbon precursor (cellulose acetate 39.7% by weight of the acetyl groups, 5% by weight with respect to the mixture). After drying, the mixture is processed thermally with 1:1 CO/CO₂ scavenging according to the protocol described in example 3.

The final compound contains 0.8% carbon. Its electronic conductivity is 5·10⁻⁴ S·cm⁻¹, measured according to the technique described in example 1. The electrochemical behavior of the LiFe_(0.5)Mn_(0.5)PO₄ sample was evaluated at ambient temperature in a lithium battery containing a liquid electrolyte.

The cathodes are made up of a mixture of active material, of carbon black and of a bonding agent (PVDF in solution in N-methylpyrrolidone) in a ratio of 85:5:10. The composite is spread on an aluminum current collector. After drying, the electrodes of 1.3 cm² and with a capacity of around 1.6 mAh are cut with a hollow punch. The batteries are assembled in a glove box with inert atmosphere.

The measurements were carried out in an electrolyte containing 1M LiClO₄ in a 1:1 EC: DMC mixture. The anode is made of lithium. The tests are carried out at ambient temperature.

FIG. 16 presents the charging and discharging curves of a battery cycled in galvanostatic mode between 3 and 4.3 volts. The charging and discharging loads applied correspond to C/24 (the battery is charged 24 hours, then discharged for the same amount of time).

The discharging curve has two plateaus: the first, around 4 V, corresponds to the reduction of manganese (III) to manganese (II) and the second, around 3.4, corresponds to the reduction of iron (III) to iron (II). The specific capacity obtained during discharge is 157 mAh·g⁻¹, which corresponds to 92% of the theoretical capacity.

Example 11

The compound C—Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄) is produced by using an iron powder with a size of several microns, LiH₂PO₄ and the carbon conductor additive (copolymer) such as is used in the previous examples.

These reagents are intimately mixed by grinding them together in an atmosphere made up of a 1:1 mixture of CO/CO₂.

The presence of the compound LiFePO₄ is confirmed by the X-ray diffraction diagram obtained from the powder thus obtained.

Example 12 Control of the Morphology by Spray Drying

LiFePO₄ is synthesized by reaction in solid state between FePO₄.2H₂O (Budenheim grade E53-81) and Li₂CO₃ (Limtech 99.9%) in the presence of a carbon additive derived from cellulose. The particles of ferric phosphate dihydrate are between 0.1 μm and 6 μm in diameter. The ferric phosphate is mixed with lithium carbonate and dispersed in water. A carbon additive of the hydroxyethyl cellulose type (Aldrich) is dissolved in water. The fraction of cellulose added represents 6% w/w of the mass of phosphate and carbonate used. The precursors are dispersed in a ball mill, then dried using a Buchi brand laboratory spray dryer equipped with a pressure nozzle. The mixture is introduced into a Linder brand rotary batch kiln scavenged by a 1:1 molar mixture of CO/CO₂. The 1:1 molar CO/CO₂ gaseous phase in equilibrium with the iron (II) insures reduction of the ferric phosphate to triphylite. The temperature rises gradually from 20° C. to 700° C. in 90 minutes, then it is held at 700° C. for 60 minutes. The sample is then cooled from 700° C. to ambient temperature in 30 minutes. The LiFePO₄ obtained using FePO₄.2H₂O and Li₂CO₃, dispersed and dried by spray drying in the presence of carbonated additive derived from cellulose, is shown in FIG. 17. It can be confirmed that the drying by spray drying of the mixture of precursors makes it possible to control the size and the morphology of the final product. It makes it possible to produce spherical agglomerates of the desired size. It is known that it is possible to adjust the size of the agglomerates by varying the spray drying parameters such as the type of nozzle (pressure nozzle, rotary or two-fluid), the percentage of solid in the mixture, the viscosity and temperature of injection, etc. The carbon coating improves the electronic conductivity of this sample of LiFePO₄ containing 1.09% of carbon determined by elementary analysis and having a conductivity of 2·10⁻³ S·cm⁻¹ measured according to the technique described in example 1.

The material prepared was tested in a CR 2032 button cell described in the preceding examples. It has a capacity equivalent to 92% of the theoretical capacity, i.e. 156 mAh/g.

Example 13 Coating and Cross-Linking of the LiFePO₄ Particles with Carbon

LiFePO₄ is synthesized by reaction in solid state between FePO₄.2H₂O (Budenheim grade E53-81) and Li₂CO₃ (Limtech 99.9%) in the presence of a mixture of carbonated additives. The particles of ferric phosphate dihydrate are between 0.1 μm and 6 μm in diameter. The ferric phosphate is mixed with lithium carbonate and dispersed in water. The carbon additive mixture contains polyethylene-block-poly(ethylene glycol) as described in the previous examples, dissolved in isopropanol and cellulose acetate. The fraction of polyethylene-block-poly(ethylene glycol) added represents 1% w/w of the mass of phosphate and carbonate, while the cellulose acetate fraction represents 4% of the mass of phosphate and carbonate. The precursors are crushed in a ball mill, then dried. The mixture is introduced into a Linder brand rotary batch kiln scavenged by a mixture of 5 lpm 1:1 molar mixture of CO/CO₂. The 1:1 molar CO/CO₂ gaseous phase in equilibrium with the iron (II) insures reduction of the ferric phosphate to triphylite. The temperature rises gradually from 20° C. to 700° C. in 90 minutes, then it is held at 700° C. for 60 minutes. The sample is then cooled from 700° C. to ambient temperature in 30 minutes.

The LiFePO₄ observed by transmission electron microscopy is presented in FIG. 18. This figure shows particles that are not sintered, but coated and cross-linked by the carbon, confirming by all evidence the close physical bond between the carbon and the LiFePO₄. This cross-linking makes it possible to produce agglomerates of LiFePO₄ bonded by carbon. The carbon coating and cross-linking improves the electronic conductivity of composite cathodes manufactured using this sample of LiFePO₄ containing 1.12% of carbon determined by elementary analysis and having an excellent conductivity of 3·10⁻³ S·cm⁻¹ measured according to the technique described in example 1.

The material prepared was tested in a CR 2032 button cell described in the preceding examples. It has a capacity equivalent to 97% of the theoretical capacity (164 mAh/g) with an excellent current density. 

1. A method for the synthesis of compounds of formula C—Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n), wherein C represents carbon cross-linked with the compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) in which x, y and n are numbers such as 0≦x≦2, 0≦y≦0.6, and 1≦n≦1.5, M is a transition metal or a mixture of transition metals from the first line of the periodic table, M′ is an element with fixed valency selected among Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Al³⁺, Zn²⁺ or a combination of these same elements and X is chosen from among S, P and Si, by bringing into equilibrium, in the required proportions, a mixture comprising at least: a) a source of M; b) a source of an element M′; c) a compound that is a source of lithium; and d) possibly a compound that is a source of X, e) a source of carbon, called carbon conductor wherein the sources of the elements M, M′, Li and X may be introduced or not, in whole or in part, in at least one step, in the form of compounds having more than one source element, and the synthesis is carried out by thermodynamic or kinetic reaction and bringing into equilibrium, in the required proportions, the mixture of the source compounds (also called precursors) a) to d), with a gaseous atmosphere, in such a way as to cause an oxidation state of the transition metal to the desired valency for the forming of Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n), by controlling the composition of the said gaseous atmosphere, the temperature of the synthesis reaction step, and the amount of the source compound c) relative to the other source compounds a), b) and d); said method comprises at least one pyrolysis step of the source compound e) such as to obtain a compound whose electronic conductivity, measured on a sample of powder compressed at a pressure greater than or equal to 3000 is greater than 10⁻⁸ S·cm⁻¹, and the mixture of the sources is prepared by spray drying.
 2. A method according to claim 1, in which the synthesis reaction between the source compounds a) to d) is carried out simultaneously with the pyrolysis reaction of the source compound e).
 3. A method according to claim 1, in which the pyrolysis reaction is carried out in a second step, consecutive to the synthesis reaction between the source compounds a) to d) and in reducing or neutral gas atmosphere.
 4. A method according to claim 1, in which the amount of carbon-source compound is chosen in such a way as to coat at least a part of the surface of the particles of the compound of formula Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) with carbon.
 5. A method according to claim 1, in which the amount of carbon conductor source compound in the reaction medium is chosen in such a way as to bond the particles of compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) with each other and to constitute agglomerates with sizes comprised between 1 and 20 microns.
 6. A method according to claim 1, in which an organic substance that is the source of the carbon conductor is selected from the group constituted by polymers and oligomers containing a carbon skeleton, simple carbohydrates or polymers and the aromatic hydrocarbons.
 7. A method of synthesis according to claim 1, in which the carbon conductor source contains, in the same compound or in the mixture that constitutes this source, oxygen and hydrogen that are bound chemically and from which pyrolysis locally releases carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen and water vapor that contributes, in addition to depositing carbon, to creating locally the reducing atmosphere required for synthesis of the material Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n).
 8. A method according to claim 1, in which the carbon conductor source compound is mainly constituted by a block copolymer comprising at least one carbon source segment that can be pyrolyzed and a segment that is soluble in water and organic solvents in such a way as to allow its distribution throughout the compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) or its precursors.
 9. A method of synthesis according to claim 8, in which an organic substance that is the carbon conductor source substance is at least one of the compounds of the group made up of polyethylene, polypropylene, glucose, fructose, sucrose, xylose, sorbose, starch, cellulose and its esters, block polymers of ethylene and ethylene oxide and polymers of furfuryl alcohol.
 10. A method according to claim 1, in which the method is carried out continuously in a reactor that promotes the equilibrium of solid powders, agglomerated or not, with the gaseous phase, that allow control of the composition and the circulation of the gaseous atmosphere.
 11. A method according to claim 1, in which the method is carried out continuously in a reactor selected from the group consisting of rotary kilns, fluidized beds, and belt-driven kilns.
 12. A method according to claim 10, in which the solid feed is greater than 1 kg/h, the temperatures are between 650° C. and 800° C., the dwell time is less than 5 hours.
 13. Method of synthesis according to claim 1, in which the reduction is obtained by the action of a reducing atmosphere chosen in such a way as to be able to reduce the oxidation state of the metallic ion M to the level required for the composition of the compound without reducing it to the neutral metallic state.
 14. Method of synthesis according to claim 13, in which the reducing atmosphere contains hydrogen or a gas that is capable of generating hydrogen under the synthesis conditions, ammonia or a substance capable of generating ammonia under the synthesis conditions or carbon monoxide, these gases being used in their pure state or in mixtures and it also being possible to use them in the presence of water vapor and/or in the presence of carbon dioxide and/or in the presence of a neutral gas (such as nitrogen or argon).
 15. Method of synthesis according to claim 13, in which the reducing atmosphere is made of a mixture of CO/CO₂ or H₂/H₂O, NH₃/H₂O or a mixture of them, generating an oxygen equilibrium pressure less than or equal to that determined by the transition metal at the state of oxidation corresponding to the precursors introduced to form the compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n), but greater than that corresponding to the reduction of any one of the transition elements present in the metallic state, ensuring the thermodynamic stability of Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) in the reaction mixture, independently of the synthesis reaction time.
 16. Method of synthesis according to claim 13, in which the gaseous atmosphere is made of a mixture of CO/CO₂ or H₂/H₂O, NH₃/H₂O or a mixture of them, generating an oxygen equilibrium pressure greater than or equal to that determined by at least the transition elements, when the precursor is introduced in the metallic form, to form the compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n), but greater than that corresponding to a superoxidation of the transition elements beyond their assigned valence in Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n), insuring the thermodynamic stability of Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) in the reaction mixture, independently of the synthesis reaction time.
 17. Method of synthesis according to claim 13, in which the reducing atmosphere is made up of a mixture of CO/CO₂, H₂/H₂O, NH₃/H₂O or a mixture of them, generating an oxygen equilibrium pressure less than or equal to that determined by one of the transition metals present in Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n), possibly being able to lead to the reduction of at least this transition element to the metallic state, the compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) being obtained by controlling the temperature and the contact time with the gaseous phase or the proportion of the precursor c) in the reaction mixture; the synthesis temperature being comprised between 200 and 1200° C. and the time of contact between the reaction mixture and the gaseous phase being comprised between 2 minutes and 5 hours.
 18. Method according to claim 13, in which the gaseous reducing atmosphere is obtained by decomposition, in a vacuum or in an inert atmosphere, of an organic compound or of a mixture of organic compounds containing at least hydrogen and oxygen, bound chemically, and of which the pyrolysis generates carbon monoxide and/or a mixture of carbon dioxide and monoxide, of hydrogen and/or a mixture of hydrogen and water vapor that is able to carry out the reduction that leads to the formation of the compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n).
 19. A method of synthesis according to claim 13, in which the gaseous reducing atmosphere is obtained by partial oxidation by oxygen or by air, of a hydrocarbon and/or of carbon, possibly in the presence of water vapor, at an elevated temperature comprised between 400 and 1200° C., making possible the formation of carbon monoxide or hydrogen or of a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
 20. A method according to claim 1, in which the gaseous phase is made up of a gas that is reformed in-situ or ex-situ.
 21. A method according to claim 1, in which the thermal processing (which includes the formation reaction of Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) and the reduction and pyrolysis and possibly dehydration of one or several of sources a) to d)) is carried out by heating from normal temperature to a temperature between 500 and 1100° C.
 22. A method of synthesis according to claim 21, in which the maximum temperature reached is comprised between 500 and 800° C.
 23. A method of synthesis according to claim 1, in which the dwell time of the reagents in the thermal processing step is less than 5 hours.
 24. A method of synthesis according to claim 1, in which the source of M is also the source of X and/or the source of M′ is also the source of X and/or the source of lithium is also the source of X and/or the source of X is also the source of lithium.
 25. A method of synthesis according to claim 1, in which the transition metal or metals is (are) chosen at least partially from the group constituted by iron, manganese, cobalt and nickel, the complement for the transition metals being chosen from the group constituted by vanadium, titanium, chromium and copper.
 26. A method of synthesis according to claim 1, in which the compound that is the source of M is in an oxidation state that can vary from 3 to
 7. 27. A method of synthesis according to claim 26, in which the compound that is the source of M is iron (III) oxide or magnetite, manganese dioxide, di-vanadium pentoxide, trivalent ferric phosphate, ferric hydroxyphosphate and lithium or trivalent ferric nitrate or a mixture of the latter.
 28. A method of synthesis according to claim 1, in which the compound that is the source of lithium is chosen from the group constituted by lithium oxide or lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, the neutral phosphate Li₃PO₄, the acid phosphate LiH₂PO₄, the orthosilicates, the metasilicates or the polysilicates of lithium, lithium sulfate, lithium oxalate and lithium acetate or a mixture of the latter.
 29. A method of synthesis according to claim 1, in which the source of X is chosen from the group constituted by sulfuric acid, lithium sulfate, phosphoric acid and its esters, the neutral phosphate Li₃PO₄ or the acid phosphate LiH₂PO₄, the monoammonium or diammonium phosphates, trivalent ferric phosphate, manganese and ammonium phosphate (NH₄MnPO₄), silica, lithium silicates, alkoxysilanes and their partial hydrolysis products and mixtures of the latter.
 30. A method according to claim 1, in which at least one of the lithium derivatives obtained is of the formula LiFePO₄, LiFe_(1−s)Mn_(s)PO₄ wherein 0≦s≦0.9, LiFe_(1−y)Mg_(y)PO₄ and LiFe_(1−y)Ca_(y)PO₄ wherein 0≦y≦0.3, LiFe_(1−s−y)Mn_(s)Mg_(y)PO₄ wherein 0≦s≦1 and 0≦y≦0.2, Li_(1+x)FeP_(1−x)Si_(x)O₄ wherein 0≦x≦0.9, Li_(1+x)Fe_(1−s)Mn_(s)P_(1−x)Si_(x)O wherein 0≦s≦1, Li_(1+z)Fe_(1−s−z)Mn_(s)P_(1−z)S_(z)O₄ wherein 0≦s≦1, 0≦z≦0.2, Li_(1+2q)Fe_(1−s−q)Mn_(s)PO₄ wherein 0≦s≦1, and 0≦q≦0.3, Li_(1+r)Fe_(1−s)Mn_(s)(S_(1−r)P_(r)O₄)_(1.5) wherein 0≦r≦1, 0≦s, t≦1 or Li_(0.5+u)Fe_(1−t)Ti_(t)(PO₄)_(1.5) wherein 0≦t≦1 and wherein 0≦u≦1.5.
 31. A method of synthesis according to claim 1, in which the reaction parameters, and in particular the kinetics of the reduction by gaseous phase, are chosen in such a way that the carbon conductor is not consumed in the course of the reduction process.
 32. A method of synthesis according to claim 31, in which the amount of substance that is the carbon conductor source, present in the reaction medium subjected to reduction, is chosen such that the amount of carbon conductor in the reaction medium will be between 0.1 and 15% of the total mass of the reaction mixture.
 33. A method of synthesis according to claim 1, in which the temperature and duration of the synthesis are chosen as a function of the nature of the transition metal, i.e. above a minimum temperature at which the reactive atmosphere is capable of reducing the transition element or elements to their oxidation state required in the compound Li_(x)M_(1−y)M′_(y)(XO₄)_(n) and below a temperature or a time leading to a reduction of the transition element or elements to the metallic state or an oxidation of the carbon resulting from pyrolysis of the organic substance.
 34. A method of synthesis according to claim 1, in which the compound that is the source of carbon is chosen in such a way that it is easily dispersible at the time of the processing used to insure an intimate mixture with precursors a) to d) by solubilization, by agitation and/or by mechanical grinding and/or by ultrasound homogenization in the presence, or not, of a liquid or by spray-drying of a solution of one or several precursors and/or of a suspension and/or of an emulsion. 